Everything on... Chelsea

The visit of Chelsea is always one of first matches fans look for when the fixtures are released each season and it is no surprise given the drama that usually unfolds when we meet our London rivals. Last season was no different.

Marcos Alonso’s second goal of the game gave Chelsea a 2-1 win at Wembley Stadium in our opening home game of the campaign but we gained sweet revenge at Stamford Bridge in April.

Alvaro Morata gave the hosts the lead but the contest turned on the stroke of half-time when Christian Eriksen fired a spectacular equaliser from distance. We took control thereafter and two goals in five minutes from Dele Alli gave us a famous 3-1 victory.

Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents this weekend...

Team news

Mateo Kovacic should be available for the visitors ahead of Saturday’s game. The Croatian international, who is on loan at Chelsea from Real Madrid, missed his nation’s 2-1 defeat to England on Sunday with a muscular problem, but reports on Friday afternoon suggested he will be fit to face us.

One to watch

Eden Hazard is now in his seventh season at Stamford Bridge and is closing in on 100 goals for Chelsea after a scintillating start to the season.

The midfield schemer struck seven times in their first eight league games and was named Premier League Player of the Month for September as he and Chelsea hit the ground running under new manager Maurizio Sarri.

Hazard broke into the side at Lille as a 16-year-old and was much coveted during his four seasons in France, winning the double in 2010/11 then scoring 20 league goals in his final Ligue 1 season before joining Chelsea in summer 2012.

He has won two league titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League at Stamford Bridge and was voted the Football Writers' and PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2015. He also has 98 caps for Belgium – only Axel Witsel (101) and our own Jan Vertonghen (110) have more.

Last five meetings

1 April, 2018 – Chelsea 1-3 Spurs – Premier League
20 August, 2017 – Spurs 1-2 Chelsea – Premier League
22 April, 2017 – Chelsea 4-2 Spurs – FA Cup semi-final
4 January, 2017 – Spurs 2-0 Chelsea – Premier League
26 November, 2016 – Chelsea 2-1 Spurs – Premier League

Previous clash

We were looking to end our 28-year hoodoo when we travelled to Stamford Bridge in April. We went into the game in fourth place and knowing that a victory would open up an eight-point gap to our opponents in fifth but that scenario looked a long way off when Morata headed the home side in front on the half-hour mark.

We needed inspiration and it came when Eriksen rifled in from 30 yards off the underside of the bar on the stroke of half-time. The second half was a different proposition as we seized control of the game and grabbed two goals in five minutes.

Dele struck in the 62nd minute following Eric Dier’s long pass then added another with a predatory finish after Heung-Min Son had broken through the Chelsea rearguard to give us a long-overdue victory.

Chelsea’s form

Sarri’s charges are unbeaten in their first 12 league games and sit third in the table, one point above ourselves. They made a blistering start by scoring 15 goals in winning their first five matches but have drawn four times since, including three of their last four home games.

Their away form has been particularly impressive, having won four of their five games with an aggregate score of 12-1, though their only setback came in a London derby when they were held to a goalless draw by West Ham.

Chelsea, like ourselves, have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Liverpool and Derby County while they have already booked their place in the Europa League round of 32 by winning their first four Group L matches.

Magic moment

Harry Kane has previously spoken about it as the moment he truly emerged onto the Premier League stage. It was New Year’s Day, 2015, and Chelsea were in town for another massive London derby.

Diego Costa had given the Blues the lead but Kane equalised with a long-range strike before Danny Rose and an Andros Townsend penalty put us 3-1 up. A smart turn and finish in the box saw Kane double his tally while Nacer Chadli also got in on the act, as Eden Hazard and John Terry netted consolations for the Blues in a memorable 5-3 success for us.

Played for both

Eidur Gudjohnsen may well be Iceland’s most famous footballer and holds a rare place in the hearts of both Spurs and Chelsea fans.

Eidur initially made his name at Bolton Wanderers but had more success at Chelsea between 2000 and 2006, scoring 78 goals in 263 appearances and winning the Premier League title twice. He then spent three seasons at Barcelona and was part of the 2008/09 side that won the Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble.

He joined us on loan from Monaco in January, 2010, and played a crucial role in us securing Champions League football for the first time. His only league goal was an important effort in a 2-1 win at Stoke City while he was on the winning side in all eight matches he played for us at White Hart Lane. In total, Eidur played 14 times for us, scoring twice.

Eidur had further stints in English football at Stoke, Fulham and back at Bolton, and his club career did not finish until he left Molde in 2016. At international level, Eidur scored 26 goals in 88 games – making him their third-most capped player ever and top goalscorer in their history.

What they’re saying

Chelsea boss Sarri has been impressed by the way we’ve started the season: “They play very good football,” he said. “They are very dangerous in the offensive phase and in short counter-attacks. They are a technical team.

“From a physical point of view they are very strong. They are competitive, they will fight for a Champions League position for sure. It’ll be a very difficult match. We have to be careful not to lose the ball in our half. They are very dangerous in those situations.”